Handmade Notebook

I love notebooks and especially those with fabric covers. I use them as travel journals. I would record my experience from trip planning, during the trip and after the journey.

I made two notebooks not too long ago...or more correctly last year since today is January 1, 2011. I took a study of the construction of notebook with fabric cover before I customized my notebooks in my own designs. The toughest part of the process was stitching up the papers. It requires lots of patient and time to accomplish the process.

I have been working a lot with fabrics made by the ethnic minority people of the Golden Triangle and China. For a change, I decided to use Malaysian batik with Borneo ikat motives for my first notebook. I will try to write Chinese in these tiny little squares....

With the snap button, the notebook could hold extra materials, such as brochures.

Right after the first notebook was completed, I couldn't wait to make my second notebook. I decided on an Oriental Theme for my second attempt. I got the idea from a Chinese brass frame hook in my drawer. The hook was in shiny gold when it was new. Over the years, it tarnished and looks even prettier now. The brass frame hook will served as a lock for the notebook. It will be attached onto the magnets hidden beneath the red fabric on the cover of my notebook.

The red cloth I used to make the notebook shown below was given by a friend who runs a business of curtain making and upholstery. I was fortunate to collect fabric remnants from his workshop for free! I made a reversible tote bag and another notebook with the same material.

Front View                                                              Back View

I ran the geometry patterns on the fabric with a sewing machine. Then I stick two small magnets onto a cardboard, which will be used as the front cover of the notebook, before I glued the red fabric on it. Prong snap buttons were used to secure the red band that holds the metal hook. I used white glue and double sided tape for this project.

Left: A Chinese fabric being stitched onto paper.  Right : Plain paper for the insert.

It was a 2 day project which can be done over the weekend. I just can't wait to use the oriental theme notebook for coming trip to China!